'I don't have Manchester United in mind' - Chelsea boss Mourinho focused on Champions League tie

Jose Mourinho is thinking only of Maribor - and not Manchester United - as Chelsea embark on an important week.

The Premier League leaders face Slovenian opposition for the first time in Tuesday night's Champions League Group G clash at Stamford Bridge.

And on Sunday the Blues visit Old Trafford, where Mourinho's one-time mentor Louis van Gaal is now in charge.

Mourinho is not looking beyond Maribor, who he has no intention of taking lightly.

"I don't have Man United in mind. I have Maribor in mind," Mourinho said.

"I don't rest players. We must play with what we have, with the best we have.

"We are not going to concede any favour by resting people or changing the team, no way."

Maribor have drawn with Sporting Lisbon and Schalke in their opening two matches - Chelsea won in Portugal last time out, having opened with a home draw against the Germans - and Mourinho is not underestimating a team which reached the group stages at Celtic's expense.

He said: "We worked studying them and I'm happy because my players now have the feeling that they are a difficult opponent."

Chelsea v Maribor: Key Battles

Chelsea v Maribor: Key Battles

1/4
Eden Hazard v Marko Suler

Hazard wants to be regarded as one of the world's leading players and has mesmerised at times this season. The Belgium forward will hope to dazzle against experienced Slovenia defender Suler.

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2/4
Nemanja Matic v Petar Stojanovic

Serbia midfielder Matic is a key, unfussy component of this Chelsea team and has featured in every game this term. He could be tested by the highly-regarded Stojanovic.

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3/4
Loic Remy v Zeljko Filipovic

France striker Remy has an opportunity to impress in the absence of Diego Costa, the Blues' leading goalscorer this term. Remy has craved Champions League football and will bid to unsettle a Maribor defence which has Filipovic at its centre.

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4/4
Luka Zahovic v John Terry

Son of Slovenia superstar Zlatko Zahovic, Luka Zahovic will likely come off the substitutes' bench and could offer another threat. The 19-year-old did just that last time out to score a 90th minute equaliser against Sporting, and the Slovenia Under-21 forward could cause Terry a few problems with his rapid pace, clever movement and close control.

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The major selection question is whether Didier Drogba or Loic Remy will start up front in the ongoing absence of Diego Costa (hamstring).

Mourinho recently spoke of his team being built with Costa as the attacking focal point and refused to discuss adjustments with a different striker in place.

"You speak about Diego, I don't speak about Diego," Mourinho said.

"I say to my players: 'I don't want to speak about injured players'.

"When somebody is injured I always look at it as an opportunity for another player. When he's not here, he's not here."

Mourinho is furious at Spain boss Vicente del Bosque after believing Costa's hamstring problem was exacerbated on international duty.

Instead of resting, the £32million signing from Atletico Madrid played almost every minute of the Euro 2016 qualifying matches against Slovakia and Luxembourg this month and Mourinho does not know if his top-scorer will be fit for Sunday's match at United.

"It's the same problem that he's having, but now an injury, not an 'almost injury'," Mourinho said.

"Let's see what happens for next weekend (at Old Trafford), but next weekend is not important. Important is (Maribor) and he cannot play."

Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel (foot) is again absent, while Brazil midfielder Ramires (groin) and World Cup winning Germany forward Andre Schurrle (illness) are also out despite training on Monday.

It is the situation regarding Costa which appears to be frustrating Mourinho most.

"It hurts," added Mourinho, who has not spoken to Del Bosque about Costa.

"You are not happy when you give players in good conditions and you receive the players in bad conditions.

"I had managers with a very open communication, some others they simply don't care.

"Year after year after year, I don't have one single SMS (text message) or one single phone call.

"I don't say that communication is compulsory for the players to be back in good conditions. I'm not saying that.

"For example, I didn't speak with (Brazil boss) Dunga and Oscar, Filipe (Luis) and Willian came back in perfect conditions."